"From the moment of its incorporation as a city in 1837, Chicago has been systematically seduced, looted, and pilloried by an aeonian horde of venal politicians, mercenary businessmen, and sadistic gangsters. Nothing has changed in more than 130 years." (Ovid Demaris, author, 1969)

Hotel Florence, on the south side of Chicago, is a historic landmark that is no longer used as a hotel but still open to visitors for tours. An interesting history of the hotel, sourced from government records, is posted at Wikipedia. (Photo: Library of Congress; Jack Boucher)The tragedy hits home with any parent. A teen beauty who was an honors student, who participated in entertainment at the president’s inaugural event, who played on her high school’s volleyball team, was shot down in Chicago.

CBS local said:

15-year-old Hadiya Pendleton, was taking shelter from the rain with a group of 10 to 12 teenagers under a canopy in Vivian Gordon Harsh Park on the 4500 block of South Oakenwald Avenue around 2:30 p.m., when someone jumped a fence, ran up to them, and opened fire.

Amid rhetoric about gun rights, it’s important to remind ourselves Chicago is one of the most restrictive cities in the U.S. when it comes to guns. The Star Tribune said:

[C]hicago, a city with bans on both assault weapons and high-capacity magazines, finds itself laboring to stem a flood of gun violence that contributed to more than 500 homicides last year and at least 40 killings already in 2013.

Blacks are most often the victims, and according to figures from the Chicago Police Dept., blacks were the offenders in 75 percent of murders between 2003-2011.

Based on U.S. Census figures, Chicago’s population is split almost evenly between whites, blacks and hispanics.

Between 2003-2011, Census showed that whites comprised 6 percent of the victims and were charged in 4 percent of the murders, while hispanics comprised 19 percent of the victims and 20 percent of the offenders.

It’s useful to point out those statistics because the federal government insists on identifying Americans by skin color and race in every document we provide various agencies. The Obama administration also routinely categorizes Americans by skin color and race in keeping with Democrat policy and strategy.

Throughout Chicago's history, various ethnic groups have been major perpetrators of crime, with shifts aligned with changing demographics.

Chicago has long been a symbol for political corruption and inept government. Current mayor Rahm Emanuel, close ally of President Barack Obama, has taken to the soapbox about gun control but he has done nothing to stem the tide of the killings.

Whatever the case, the death of Hadiya is another stain on the city’s tragic reputation and another indication gangs may rule the streets of Chicago.